Chester City 0, Chesterfield 0

Aug 13 2007 by Neil Turner, Liverpool Daily Post

CHESTER CITY’S new manager Bobby Williamson will be moderately pleased with the outcome of his side’s Coca-Cola League Two opener, but he will be acutely aware that one point could easily have been three, if City had capitalised on their second half superiority.

City, who gave full debuts to five players, took a little time to settle down, but when they did, they showed flashes of attacking quality that had been missing from their play during the past 18 months.

The star of the show was former Liverpool, Coventry and Sheffield Wednesday player Ritchie Partridge, who time and time again left his marker chasing shadows.

The pint-sized Irishman earned guarded praise from Williamson following the game.

He said: “He’s exciting to watch. I just hope he doesn’t sustain an injury, as he’s been blighted with injuries throughout his career.

“He can certainly go on to be a good player for Chester City Football Club.”

While Partridge was outstanding down the right, and the central defensive partnership of Paul Butler and Paul Linwood for the most part was solid, there must still be concerns about the left-back position, and the lack of a box-to-box midfielder.

But overall, there looks to be a lot to build on with the systems that Williamson employs and the squad he has assembled.

It must not be forgotten that Chesterfield are third favourites to win this division, and City for the most part were equal, if not better, than the Derbyshire men, in most departments on Saturday.

The visitors edged the first period with the industrious Jamie Ward going close on two occasions. At the other end Mark Hughes blasted well over with an effort from 20 yards.

City felt aggrieved when a John Murphy header flew past Barry Roche into the Chesterfield net early in the second half, but the “score” was harshly ruled out for what the official described as “a push” by the Chester striker.

In the dying embers of the game substitute Simon Yeo had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock for the home side, but he fired wide with an angled effort from 15 yards.

Following the game Bobby Williamson said: “We have got a lot of hard work to do. I think that showed at times. We have got two midfield players who like to pass the ball, and we’ve got wide players who want to get on the ball and create, but I thought we were more productive on the right-hand side of the park than on the left.

“If we get that balance, then I think we could be a force in this league, as long as we don’t concede goals and we stay organised.

“In particular, I thought Paul Butler and Paul Linwood were excellent at times.”

Chester have a home tie in the first round of the Johnstones Paint Trophy, following Saturday’s televised draw. City will meet Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday, September 4 (kick-off 7.45pm) at the Deva Stadium.

CHESTER CITY: Danby, Vaughan, Butler, Linwood, Wilson, Partridge, Hughes, Grant (Hand 88), Ellison, Murphy (Holroyd 81), Lowndes (Yeo 75). Subs: Ward, Roberts.

CHESTERFIELD: Roche, Picken, Downes, Kovacs, Robertson, Niven, Winter, Leven (Smith 59), Ward, Fletcher, Lester (Lowry 81). Subs: Gray, O’Hare, Allison.

REFEREE: Andy Haines (Tyne & Wear).

ATT: 3,183.